Regenerative Design
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with San Pedro.

FEBRUARY 2017 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 1

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LETTER FROM
THE EDITOR

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What do you think about the new exit park, now officially
called the Los Angeles Sister Cities Plaza, as you enter the 110
freeway from Gaffey St.?
When I posted the Daily Breeze’s story on the park’s renaming
and late February opening on the magazine’s Facebook page, these
were some of the unenthused comments:
“Yay, another useless park by the freeway. I'm sure this will be a homeless spot for sure.”
“Total waste of time, space, and funds.”
“A nice, new, free campground for the meth-heads to commandeer.”
“Who in the world voted for another freeway park? Do people expect kids running
around in walking distance to the freeway? What about the local schools in need?”
These comments capture a particular, if not majority, viewpoint on this project, as
evidenced by the response on social media. The same issues were voiced when the
Welcome Park, across the street from the new Sister Cities Plaza, was built in 2007. This
sentiment, however, completely misses the mark on why parks such as these exist.
It’s all about aesthetics. In other words, it’s about looking good. It’s about finally taking
ownership of our town away from the vagrants and vandals and giving the community
something it can be proud to look at. These entrance/exit parks aren’t meant to be
primary playgrounds for children, nor are they meant to be destination parks like Peck or
Bogdanovich. They’re purpose, as I see it, is to be the anti-eyesore. It’s supposed to give
an individual a sense of pride, hope and ownership of our town. And it’s something we, as
San Pedrans, need now more than ever.
We can argue all day long if the allocated funds for such projects are worth it. (The
Welcome Park cost $1 million and was paid for by the Port of Los Angeles, the new Sister
Cities Plaza cost $500,000 and was paid for by the City of L.A.). But in the end, what
POLA and the City of L.A. did was take beat up, ugly, unloved slices of San Pedro real
estate and make it beautiful again. Commercial property owners should take note.
This town is in dire need of a makeover. We all know it’s going to happen on the
waterfront, but we need to start focusing on the rest of San Pedro.
Anyone who’s driven on Gaffey Street the past couple of years has noticed the blight
and degradation of our busiest thoroughfare. In the morning, the street is ravaged by our
continuing homeless problem, which brings with it discarded trash that spills onto the
sidewalks and street. And at night, it becomes a congregation of people suffering from
mental illness and vagrants and addicts looking for their next fix.
L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti picked Gaffey St. as part of his Great Streets Initiative, a
citywide program focused on beautifying major thoroughfares throughout Los Angeles.
Unfortunately, this program is still trying to find funding, but small improvements like the
entrance and exit parks and the refurbishment/lighting of the pedestrian bridge, are steps
in the right direction; but we need more beautification projects in San Pedro.
Commercial property owners, of which there are many in town, need to step up and
do their part, as well. There are too many unpleasant commercial properties lining our
streets, many haven’t been upgraded in years, if not decades. The city can only do so
much; it’s time we as a community start holding these property owners accountable for
their contribution to the blight in our community.
That said, this is exactly the motive behind Regenerative Design Studios'
#LeafYourMark campaign, the subject of our cover story this month. Owner and
landscape architect, Robin Lynch, is launching the campaign in an effort to bring more
aesthetic beauty to public use facilities across Los Angeles, utilizing California native
plants and exciting design elements. Being a local business owner and San Pedro resident,
Lynch decided that the best place to start the campaign is right here in town. Find out
more about it in this month’s cover story. spt
Joshua Stecker is publisher/editor-in-chief of San Pedro Today. Letters to the
Editor can be emailed to contact@sanpedrotoday.com.

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San Pedro Today publishes the last Thursday of
every month and is produced monthly by Empire22
Media LLC. No portion of this publication can
be reproduced without written permission by
Empire22 Media. 25,000 copies are delivered to
San Pedro and portions of Rancho Palos Verdes.
San Pedro Today is a product of Empire22 Media
LLC. Empire22 Media LLC, their subsidiaries
and affiliates are released from all liability that
may involve the publication of San Pedro Today.
Copyright 2009-2017, Empire22 Media LLC.

3 (Fri) – NATALIE BASZILE at Marymount California
University in The Commons (30800 Palos Verdes Dr. East)
EVERY WEEK – STRONG PEDRO PROJECT at Plaza 12:30 – 1:45p. The acclaimed author of Queen Sugar will
Park (10th St. & Beacon St.) See story on page 22.
be speaking about her book, which has been adapted for
television by Oprah Winfrey. Event is FREE. For more
Every Wed – CHILDREN’S WRITING CLASSES at information, call (310) 303-7223.
the Corner Store (1118 37th St). Seven Golden Secrets of
Writing with Diana Chapman, Wed 4:30-5:45p. For info, 4 (Sat) – BOOK SALE at the San Pedro Library, Phil Scott
call (310) 626-7906.
Meeting Room (931 S. Gaffey St.) 11a – 4p. The Friends of
San Pedro Library hosts its monthly book sale, with tons
Every Fri – SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (6th St. of bargains on great reads! All proceeds benefit the library.
between Pacific and Mesa Streets) 9a-2p.
9 (Thurs) – SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1945
Every Sat – LAFD HARBOR MUSEUM (639 Harbor Blvd.) REUNION BREAKFAST at The Grinder (511 S. Harbor
10a-3p. Experience San Pedro and Wilmington's Fire Blvd.) 9:30a. Attention Pirates! It’s time to reminisce on
Protection and Rescue service history with vintage fire the good ‘ol days with your fellow SPHS alumni. Join your
apparatus and various displays. The museum is located in friends and former classmates for breakfast! RSVP to Alice
Old Fire Station 36 in the San Pedro City Hall. Admission is Jacobson at (310) 832-1807 or Grace Woodman (310) 833FREE, donations are accepted.
8321.

13 (Mon) – VOLUNTEER TRAINING at the Cabrillo
Marine Aquarium (3720 Stephen M. White Dr.) 9a-12:30p.
Do you love marine life? Become a CMA volunteer! Train to
become a docent for the museum’s spring outdoor program,
which welcomes 4,000 school children a week, and helps
provide educative information about the ocean environment.
Applications are available by contacting Floyd Anderson at
(310) 548-7562 ext. 229 or floyd.anderson@lacity.org.

Do you love taking pictures? Participate in a PHOTO
CONTEST, hosted by the Point Fermin Lighthouse. Grab
your camera and capture the beautiful and historic lighthouse
(fresh with a new coat of paint!), and you may win one of
several categories! All winners will be announced in April,
and winning photographs will be displayed at the San Pedro
landmark. For more information, please call the lighthouse
for an entry form (310) 241-0684.

18 (Sat) – 2017 OSCAR NOMINATED DOCUMENTARY
SHORT FILMS at The Space (624 S. Pacific Ave.) 7p.
Presented by the San Pedro International Film Festival,
10 (Fri) – MOMS CLUB OF SAN PEDRO MEETING at enjoy viewing all of the Oscar nominated documentary
Bogdanovich Park (1920 Cumbre Dr.) 3:30 – 5p. MOMS short films before the 29th Academy Awards. Tickets are
Club of San Pedro is a nonprofit organization that focuses $10. For information and tickets, visit
on supporting other local moms. Monthly Social General grandvision.org and spiffest.org.
Meeting will include crafts, snacks, and park play for the
kids. For more info, contact sanpedromomsclub@yahoo. 24 (Fri) – 2017 OSCAR NOMINATED ANIMATED SHORT
com.
FILMS at The Space (624. S. Pacific Ave.) 7p. Presented by
the San Pedro International Film Festival, enjoy viewing all
11 (Sat) – FOUNDERS DAY at Point Fermin Lighthouse (807 of the Oscar nominated animated short films before the 29th
W Paseo Del Mar) 1 – 4p. During the month of February, the Academy Awards. Tickets are $10. For information and
lighthouse is celebrating Heritage Month, celebrating Bill tickets, visit grandvision.org and spiffest.org.
Olesen, John Olguin and Julian Jimenez, as well as the 100th
anniversary of the arrival of Keeper Austin and his family 25 (Sat) – ALINA KIRYAYEVA at the Redondo Union
who were the last lighthouse keepers at Point Fermin. Join Auditorium (1 Sea Hawk Wy.) 7:30p. The South Bay
in the historic celebration and enjoy their yummy cocoa bar! Community Concert Association will present an outstanding
concert of popular and classical music featuring professional
11 (Sat) – FIREBIRD BALALAIKA QUINTET at the San concert pianist and chamber musician, Alina Kiryayeva.
Pedro Library, Phil Scott Meeting Room (931 S. Gaffey St.) Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children and students. For
2p. Presented by Friends of the San Pedro Library, Musical information and tickets, visit southbayconcerts.org or call
group Firebird performs traditional Russian, Ukrainian, and Paul Bellia at (310) 326-8184.
Eastern European songs and original composition using
traditional instruments. Event is FREE.

2 (Thurs) – YOUR JEWISH SOUL: AN OWNER’S MANUAL
at Temple Beth El (1435 W. 7th St.) 7:30p. As part of the
Taus Lecture Series, providing provocative and stimulating
presentations on subjects of general and Jewish interest
by distinguished scholars from colleges and universities

11 (Sat) – 3rd ANNUAL HOLY TRINITY GALA at
DoubleTree Hotel, Madeo Ballroom (2800 Via CabrilloMarina) 6p. This evening of dining and dancing will be
celebrating former pastor Reverend Thomas J. Glynn, as
well as fundraising for Holy Trinity School and Preschool.

Every first and second Sunday – Tour the MULLER HOUSE
MUSEUM (1542 Beacon St.) 1-4p. Last tour starts at 3:15p.
Built in 1899, the Muller House is the headquarters of the
San Pedro Bay Historical Society. Admission is free, but a
donation of $3 is encouraged.
ENJOY WHALE WATCHING through the Cabrillo
Whalewatch Program. Since 1972, this program has brought
children and adults alike up close with the majestic marine
creatures, as well as provided informative, expert naturalists
to guide tours, as well as speak to classrooms or private groups.
Rates start at just $10 per person. For more information, call
(310) 548-7770 or visit cabrillowhalewatch@gmail.com.

8 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I FEBRUARY 2017

11 (Sat) - 2017 OSCAR NOMINATED LIVE ACTION
SHORTS at the Warner Grand (478 W. 6th St.) 7p. If you’re
a movie-lover, you’ll really love this event! Presented by the
San Pedro International Film Festival, enjoy viewing all of
the Oscar nominated live action short films before the 29th
Academy Awards. Tickets are $10. For information and
tickets, visit grandvision.org and spiffest.org.

Email event info to events@sanpedrotoday.com.
Deadline for the March issue is Friday, February
10. All locations in San Pedro unless otherwise
noted.

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FEBRUARY 2017 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 9

VOICES

Angels
Among Us

Please Join Us

The 3rd Annual Holy Trinity Gala
Dinner Dance

Honoring our former pastor of 25 years

Reverend Thomas J. Glynn

&

Supporting Holy Trinity School and Preschool

Saturday, February 11, 2017 Six O’ Clock in the evening
For ticket info, to become an event sponsor or to place an ad in the program
contact Niledy Casiano 310-833-0703 x200
holytrinityschoolsecretary@yahoo.com

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Pirate Football Makes Its
National TV Debut
by Steve Marconi
Narbonne may have supplanted San Pedro High as the
dominant football power in Los Angeles, but when it comes to
location, there is no competition. At least that’s the way the NFL
felt when it came to filming a TV promo for its new youth program
aimed at getting kids away from video games and back outdoors.
I, along with millions of others across the nation, was watching
a recent playoff game when a commercial came on with a bunch of
high school-age kids getting ready for a football game. I had already
hit the mute button, as a I do for all ads, when I glanced up and
saw the main entrance to San Pedro High School and a huge “Pedro Pride” banner, and
later, a closing shot of the Pirates’ field and the victory arch as the backdrop for the www.
playfootball.com plug.
It turns out the ad has been running all season in 30-, 60- and 90-second versions. If
you’ve missed it, the entire two-minute video is available on YouTube (search “Let’s Play
Football”). The production company came to Principal Jeanette Stevens last June on the
recommendation of City athletic officials. They also had recommended Narbonne, but the
scout had done previous work at SPHS and, as Stevens noted, “We’re really friendly for
filming. I took them for a walk and talk tour, and they liked the facilities. We’re pretty
flexible about how to make things work, and they saw that right away. They had a big list
of requirements, and we got all our teams on board. The band and cheerleaders and the
coaches, all were in.”
The actual filming took place after school was out, so while there are a lot of Pedro
students involved, including members of the football team, actors and stunt people are
involved in the key scenes. “They used as much of us as they could for the commercial,”
Stevens said. And the house used in the ad is on 16th Street, near the campus, and is the
home of one of the school’s band members. Also on hand were NFL players, such as the
Rams’ Robert Quinn and the Cardinals’ David Johnson.
“There were a couple of walkthroughs during the week,” Pirates’ head coach Corey
Miller said. “They filmed it on Friday. We had to be there at 1 p.m., the kids came at 2
p.m., and we didn’t leave until 1 a.m.”
“Our kids were so excited,” Stevens said. “One of the kids, it was his birthday, was
there all day and night. He left at midnight and went to Arizona to play in a baseball
tournament.” As for the victory arch scene, Stevens said, “That was an afterthought; it
wasn’t planned. The film crew saw Derrick (Moore) putting the flags away and said, hold
on, can you do that again? That’s how that got filmed.”
The climactic scene, a game simulation (Carson High provided the opposition players,
and that’s John Bobich and Dom Costa playing referees), involved a long pass and catch.
“That pass, my gosh, watching that pass, we were like fans,” Stevens, sitting in the stands
with parents and students, said. “When it connected, we were all jumping up and down.”
It turns out that San Pedro’s starting quarterback was out of town, and the “quarterback”
selected by the film crew couldn’t do the job, so another San Pedro student filled in. “The
highlight was when they caught the ball,” Stevens said. “To see the film crew jumping up
and down – ‘Yes, victory, we won.’ But it was just a movie.”
The money was real, however. For its participation, the school received $15,000 from
the NFL. All for a good cause. The ad is part of the NFL’s new “Play 60” policy, “trying to
get kids more active, outside for at least 60 minutes a day,” Miller said. I mentioned that
in my day, parents had a hard time getting kids to stay inside for 60 minutes a day, and
Miller, a generation younger, noted, “I wasn’t allowed in the house until dark. These kids
today, they’re hooked on electronics. It’s a good push (by the NFL). If other organizations
can jump on board and get kids active, it’s a good thing.”
So is the fame that comes with such national exposure, although I can’t help but
wonder how many people are wondering where in the heck is San “Paydro” High School.
One hint: It’s not in Harbor City. spt
Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconi@yahoo.com.

Thank you San Pedro
for 30 Years of Support!

VOICES

Check Out Our New Menu Items!
Sandwiches & Burgers that are Heavenly!
Made with the Highest Quality Meats
& Exceptional Breads!

#PedroLove

GREAT New Desserts, Too!

12 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I FEBRUARY 2017

er
Ord with
ine
onl at24
E

by Jack Baric

We
ive
r

Del

!

Introducing a full breakfast menu!
Homemade burgers made with Angus beef!
Now Open Until 8pm Mon-Fri!

It seems like a hundred years, but it was only two months
ago that I used this space to urge my fellow San Pedrans to take
a day off from our caustic social media debates. I’m as guilty as
anyone about this and so I was happy when people embraced
the challenge. Together we created a day on Facebook that was
dubbed #PedroCivility. It was so much fun that I’m thinking, let’s
try it again – and with February being the month of love, how
does #PedroLove sound to everyone?
I’ve been thinking a lot about the power of love lately. Over
the holidays, my father-in-law, Anthony Viducich, passed away from cancer, a disease
that evokes many emotions that are the opposite of love. It is a terrible disease that
is painful to watch, but the silver lining in our long goodbye to “Poppi” was the
opportunity for all of us to say how much we loved each other.
I was especially gratified to see my kids give their grandfather big doses of love in
their numerous visits to his bedside. As people who have faith in a higher power, my
family believes that the love Poppi is now experiencing is with family and friends that
have greeted him in a place that is more peaceful and perfect than our home here on
earth.
I’m a pretty low key Catholic, but I start almost every morning by reading a couple
quotes from great leaders of my church – everyone from Pope Francis to Mother
Teresa. One of my personal favorites is Father Greg Boyle, whose ministry to gang
members in East L.A. is both awe inspiring and humbling. My favorite Father G quote:
“Sometimes resilience arrives in the moment you discover your own unshakeable
goodness.”
Many of the quotes I read are about love and kindness. Here are a few: “A single act
of pure love pleases me more than a thousand imperfect prayers.” “I would rather make
mistakes in kindness and compassion than work miracles in unkindness and hardness.”
“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.” “Kind
words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
We San Pedrans seem to never want to back down from a good fight, so these
quotes are a nice reminder to try and mix in more kind words than pugnacious ones,
especially in our daily social media conversations. We shouldn’t let our fights and nasty
words mask how much we love our town. Even though the L.A. Weekly branded us
the “surliest” bunch in all of L.A., that love is the one overriding thing that makes our
hometown so endearing.
Wouldn’t it be great for the L.A. Weekly to follow up their surly poll with a study
on which Southern California community has the largest per capita exhibition of their
town name on the backs of t-shirts or car bumper stickers? San Pedro would win hands
down, no contest.
On February 14, the more romantically inclined among us will use social media to
proclaim their eternal love for their spouse, partner, and soulmate. It wouldn’t be proper
to interrupt the Valentine’s Day flow of roses, champagne and chocolate, so how about
we take the day before for San Pedrans to state everything it is that they love about our
town?
On December 1, we kicked off the holidays with #PedroCivility. Let’s start
Valentine’s Day a day early on February 13, by urging all San Pedrans to post the
things they love the most about our hometown. #PedroLove. spt
Jack Baric can be reached at jackbaric@hotmail.com.

WATCH A CLIP OF NEW KINGS OF FI$H EPISODES
STREAMING NOW AT KINGSOFFISHTV.COM

Join us the LA Waterfront for San Pedro Fish Market’s
World Famous Shrimp Trays or stop by the Crusty
Crab for their Famous Shell Shocker and a Michelada.
For a quick and healthy stop for lunch, try Shamrock
Seafoods – our fast casual Mexican-style
seafood restaurant in neighboring Wilmington
and enjoy the best Fish & Shrimp Tacos EVER!

YOU CAN NOW ENJOY OUR
WORLD FAMOUS SHRIMP TRAY AT HOME!
Look for us in the seafood section
of your local grocery store or we’ll ship to you from
www.SanPedroFish.com

VOICES

For the Important Stuff,
Less is Not More

14 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I FEBRUARY 2017

by Mike Lansing
An often-overused axiom is that “less is more.” I must admit
that I do agree with that saying when it comes to a church sermon,
broccoli, Kanye and any of the Kardashians, my singing, root canals,
waiting in line, political ads and speeches, selfies, and grandma’s
fruitcake, just to name a few. But for truly important items and
issues - less is LESS! Just a few examples of when less is NOT more:
PUBLIC EDUCATION: While Governor Brown recently stated
that he was raising public education funding by $2.1 billion for the
coming year, in reality, it will be $500 million less than current-year
spending as reported by the L.A. Times on January 15. This is because Prop 98 mandates
a “minimum” amount of the budget that can be spent on education and his proposed total
is still $500 million short of current education spending, which already is not meeting the
education resources needed by our students. After a couple of years of building up a more
than respectable reserve it would seem reasonable that at least the $500 million of it could
be added to the education budget. Less public education support is not more – use a small
part of the reserve, Mr. Brown!
MINIMUM WAGE: No matter the arguments to the contrary, raising minimum wage
is a good thing because earning less is not more, especially when trying to survive in Los
Angeles. At the same time, let’s get smart and raise the total income level for working
parents to continue to be eligible to receive subsidized child care or we will force them to
choose between making even less or going on welfare to take care of their children. Less
hourly wage and less affordable childcare is not more – let’s use some common sense and
strategize the two together.
TAXES: Let’s face it, no one likes to pay taxes, but this is obviously the mechanism by
which we fund our local, state and federal systems, infrastructure needs, police and fire
services, Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid, public education, our military and social
services, just to name a few. Less taxes means less government revenue, which equates to
less of each of these. We get what we pay for and Trickle-Down Economics has proven
itself a hoax. Not so long ago, we implemented less taxes and went to war in the Middle
East at the same time to eliminate weapons of mass destruction – how did that work out
for us in terms of our national debt, not to mention a less stable world? While we would
all like to pay less, less taxes only indentures our children and our children’s children.
OBAMACARE: If we can improve upon Obamacare and provide even better medical
coverage for all Americans than currently, then by all means! However, providing less
coverage for our neighbors and putting thousands of lives in jeopardy, because you don’t
have a better plan and solely because Obamacare wasn’t your plan, is downright immoral.
Less medical coverage is obviously not more! Stop playing politics with the health of
Americans and improve the plan if you can or shut up and get out of the way. (Pardon me
for my lack of tolerance.)
COMPASSION & TOLERANCE: A growing intolerance of those different than us
and less caring for those who need us most has resulted in the sad fallout we view in our
communities and on the news every day. America and Americans can be tremendously
prosperous and safe, and we can still care for our poor, but all this cannot happen with less
of a commitment to either of these traits. Less compassion and less tolerance is not more!
Time to stop the tweeting and find positive discourse and solutions to the great need and
differences in this country and beyond. spt
Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the
Los Angeles Harbor.

January will prove to be an incredibly wet month for Southern California, the
likes of which we haven’t seen in quite some time. While the rain is sorely needed for
our drought plagued state, the aftermath will leave parking lots swamped, storm drains
clogged and our local streets flooded. Not to mention, as the days and weeks go by, plenty
of still water will be lying dormant, waiting for bacteria and mosquitos.
San Pedro is an old town, and we’re beginning to show our age. Poorly designed parking lots, buckling sidewalks, dated architecture, and non-native plants have infected our
town’s infrastructure, causing expensive problems that rarely, if ever, get fixed.
According to Robin Lynch, principal owner of Regenerative Design Studios, a landscape architectural firm in San Pedro, many of the problems we see in public spaces, like
flooded parking lots, vegetation overgrowth, and damaged walkways, can be mitigated
through better landscape design and the proper use of California native plants.
Lynch, 40, a third-generation landscape designer and horticulturalist, has been spreading the gospel of good landscape design most of her life. Her father, Richard Lynch, is one
of the original founding presidents of the Palos Verdes Rhododendron Society, and her
grandfather, Robert Jack Lynch, for whom she is named, was the author of The Encyclopedia of Gardening. As she notes in our conversation, she “bleeds green.”
“I have dreams of plants,” laughs Lynch, but she’s being serious. She speaks of plants
and landscape design like car enthusiasts talk about tires and engines. Her passion, mixed
with her genes and years of education (she holds a Bachelors from Cal Poly Pomona, is a
full member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and is, of course, a licensed
landscape contractor), has afforded her with a rich tapestry of knowledge and experience
that she hopes to turn into positive environmental results across Los Angeles through her
#LeafYourMark campaign.
“#LeafYourMark is about collaboration through the community to inspire people to
take notice of their surroundings in terms of good examples of landscape architectural
design,” explains Lynch, “and to point out areas that could be improved through better

design.
“It’s a way to get people to actively participate in making their surroundings better.”
Lynch is a firm believer in the theory that good design leads to better communities. Her
firm, Regenerative Design Studios, founded in 2009 and based in downtown San Pedro,
has worked on numerous large-scale infrastructural improvement projects in and around
Los Angeles. Their focus is utilizing California native plants in all their design efforts,
which sets them apart from many other in-demand firms that focus more on the aesthetic
quality than the impact their work will have on the environment.
Most recently, they were the Lead Consultant for the landscape architectural components of the Expo Light Rail Phase II Project, which runs nearly 7 miles from Culver City
to Santa Monica. Regenerative Design Studios worked closely with city officials and the
lead design firm to keep the Metro board’s mandate of using 90% California native plants
intact.
“The designer of record was experiencing challenges on how to go California native,”
explains Lynch. “We provided them with critical consultancy to redesign their whole pallet and meet the Metro board’s mandate. I’m incredibly proud with how everything turned
out.”
#LEAFYOURMARK IN SAN PEDRO
Being a San Pedro resident, Lynch is constantly noticing examples of poor design and
landscape architecture around town. Since coming off her successful run with the Expo
Light Rail project, the Peninsula High grad has now turned her focus locally for the launch
of #LeafYourMark.
“We need to look more aesthetically pleasing and more attractive,” says Lynch about
the current state of San Pedro. “I see parking lots and other public spaces that can be
shaded and cooled, areas that need better filtration mechanisms in place, all of which can
be done through better landscape design and architecture.”

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A view of the Expo Light Rail
Phase II Project, which runs nearly
7 miles from Culver City to Santa
Monica. Regenerative Design
Studios worked closely with city
officials and the lead design firm
to keep the Metro board’s mandate of using 90% California native
plants intact. (photos: Regenerative
Design Studios)

18 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I FEBRUARY 2017

During our hour-long conversation, Lynch cites two areas that could immediately benefit from the #LeafYourMark campaign: the parking lots of the World Cruise Center and
at Crafted/Brouwerij West.
“After the rains, these parking lots will be left with huge puddles of standing water,
some deeper than your shoes,” she explains. “When you have impervious parking lots, it
overwhelms our storm drains. The water grabs all the pollutants and goes directly into the
ocean unfiltered. Soil and plants act as natural filters. Plants are awesome at sucking up
pollutants. There are some plants that actually thrive on pollutants!”
Lynch states that when you install parking islands with California native vegetation
to provide shade, and install bioswales (landscape elements designed to remove pollution
from runoff water) into the parking surface area, the planted areas act as both filtration
and infiltration, essentially filtering out rain water while providing positive environmental
impacts on the community.
“Then the plants attract pollinators, which attract beneficial insects, which attract birds,
etc.,” says Lynch. “It’s the circle of life. You’re putting the circle of life back into a dead,
empty space.”
So how is this #LeafYourMark campaign supposed to work? It’s easy to point out the
problems, but a lot harder, and much more expensive, to put these ideas into action.
“Ideally, our goal is the be the designer of record and to consult on projects that adhere
to the #LeafYourMark campaign,” says Lynch. “In partnership with developers, we work
together to bring projects to fruition.”

Lynch agrees that even though there are plenty of areas of San Pedro that can benefit
from a #LeafYourMark campaign, only certain entities with enough funding can implement such improvements. She cites the Port of Los Angeles as one such entity that has
already allocated funding for grant proposal projects to offset the environmental damage
the port creates.
“The Crafted/Brouwerij West parking lot is a perfect example of a site that the port
should use that funding for,” says Lynch. “It would be the perfect pilot project to start the
#LeafYourMark campaign.”
At the end of the day, Lynch hopes the #LeafYourMark campaign starts a conversation
in the community and gets people educated on the importance of proper landscape design
and implementation.
“Landscape architecture is a science, but it’s also an art,” explains Lynch. “If you want
to boil landscape architecture down to a singular point, it’s psychology. It’s about how you
feel in a space. That’s all it is. Good design, bad design, is about how you feel in a space.
People feel differently in different spaces. People, subconsciously, respond to good design.
“I want this campaign to educate people. I want this to illuminate something inside
them. People want that good feeling. People like to be in well-designed spaces.” spt
Post your photos, good and bad, with the hashtag #LeafYourMark to Twitter,
Instagram or Facebook. What green beauty do you want to see, San Pedro?
For more info on Regenerative Design Studios, visit www.rdsla.com.

“I was living with my daughter after
my wife passed away. She had stairs in her
home so eventually I needed another option.
We looked at three places, but I knew right
away Harbor Terrace was the place for me.
The atmosphere, staff and meal choices are
what attracted me the most. After three
years, I now know most of my fellow
residents by name as well as the wonderful
staff. I am very happy here and enjoy
everything about it!”

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Last month, I proposed ways for San Pedrans to learn more about
their history and culture by celebrating days of importance in San
Pedro. Within days of the magazine’s release, I was hearing positive
feedback on the story. By the time First Thursday came around, a
week later, I started to see just how well my words were received.
No one has to tell me how big of a San Pedro nerd I am, I am
fully aware that my enthusiasm for learning and sharing local
history is borderline fanatical. My wish would be that my hometown
history bug rubs off a little and sparks an interest. So when I got the
message from my friend Annette Ciketic to stop by her gallery on First Thursday to talk
about how my article inspired her to put on a San Pedro-themed art show at fINdings
Art Center, I was walking on air! The inspiration didn’t stop there. That night, I ran into
Martha McKinzie, president of the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society, and she informed me
that the society is planning on honoring John Olguin’s birthday with a day of service at
the lighthouse. John Olguin and his friend Bob Olesen are considered the savior’s of the
lighthouse, keeping it for generations of San Pedrans to cherish.
Even people who hadn’t read my article were very complimentary about it. Alan
Johnson (of Jerico Development) said he looked forward to reading it in hopes that it
might inspire future programming at the San Pedro Public Market. Was it my birthday?
The ultimate, for me, the Pedro nerd, was when I went to my first meeting of the San
Pedro Bay Historical Society Board, of which I'm one of the newest members. Two of the
founding members, Art and Irene Almeida, asked to address the board. They had a copy of
my article in their hand. Next thing I know, I’m organizing a little birthday party for San
Pedro at the Muller House.
So far, we have John Olguin and San Pedro’s birthday celebrations covered in February
and early March. I know we can really make “celebrating San Pedro” a thing this year.
Let’s remember that it doesn’t have to be a big to do and if your group or organization
would like to spearhead a little San Pedro holiday gathering, let me know and I will offer
my help in any way I can. Now, who’s ready to party?
Upcoming San Pedro Celebrations
February 21 – John Olguin Service Day at the Point Fermin Lighthouse (807
Paseo del Mar). February is Heritage Month at the Point Fermin Lighthouse and the
society will be honoring a special set of men who have left their mark on the lighthouse,
including John Olguin, Bill Olesen and Julian Jimenez. February 21 will be the inaugural
John Olguin Service Day and students and staff from Marymount California University
will join lighthouse volunteers for a day of planting. For more info on how you can get
involved, visit www.pointferminlighthouse.org.
March 2 – Celebrate San Pedro Art Show at fINdings Art Center (470 W. 6th St.).
Join fINdings Art Center for a very special art show dedicated to celebrating San Pedro
artists and the town where they live, work or find inspiration. Discover the hidden gems in
our community as seen through the eyes of an artist. Opening Reception: First Thursday
Art Walk on March 2 from 5:30-9 p.m. For more info, visit www.findingsartcenter.org.
March 5 – A San Pedro Birthday Party at the Muller House Museum (1542 S.
Beacon St.). The San Pedro Bay Historical Society will be celebrating the 129th birthday
of the city of San Pedro, established March 1, 1888, with a neighborhood birthday party.
All are welcome to the Muller House on March 5 from 1-4 p.m. for special anniversarythemed exhibits, activities and even some birthday cupcakes and refreshments. spt

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FEBRUARY 2017 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 21

Quest for Fitness
at Plaza Park
The Strong Pedro Project Health &
Fitness Initiative gets people moving
in the new year
by Rachel Kaplan

22 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I FEBRUARY 2017

Raise your hand if getting fit, losing weight, or starting an exercise program is part of
your New Year’s Resolutions. Now raise your hand if you are like most people whose new
running shoes are gathering dust come February? Don’t worry. You are not alone – and
you’re in luck. A new health and fitness initiative, the Strong Pedro Project, is proving a
unique approach to fitness succeeds where conventional gym memberships and personal
promises don’t. Not only does the Strong Pedro Project provide a fitness program that
gets people moving regularly, but also uses a unique outdoor environment and enjoyable
classes that shake things up enough to ensure members stick with a program.
Heyday Elite Fitness, a popular CrossFit gym in San Pedro, spearheaded the Strong
Pedro Project to help the San Pedro community beyond the four walls of their successful
fitness center. The initiative makes use of Plaza Park, with its constant flow of fresh air
and fully upgraded outdoor fitness equipment. A diverse set of classes from Heyday
Fitness instructors and other notable trainers in the community are held at the park and
make getting healthy seem like a fun activity and less like a chore.
The Strong Pedro Project’s New Year’s program, which started on January 16 and runs
through February, is offering Bootcamp by Heyday Elite Fitness, “Glutecamp” by San
Pedro Fit, and yoga by People’s Yoga of San Pedro, on separate days every week. Classes
and programs will also run throughout the year with class information and schedules
regularly updated through the project’s Facebook page.
Heyday Fitness co-owners Ricky Magana and Eddie Mckenna have consistently
focused on strength and conditioning programs for busy people since they opened seven
years ago. Novice exercisers who struggle to find the time to get to the gym and seasoned
athletes who quickly get bored with conventional gym programs flock to Heyday Elite
Fitness because of their approach that works well and is fun for everyone.
It is this original approach that caught the eye of Los Angeles City Councilman Joe
Buscaino, who sought to partner with owners Ricky Magana and Eddie Mckenna to create
a fitness program that used the untapped potential of local Plaza Park, located on Beacon
Street across from the U.S. Post Office. When Magana was looking for the perfect location
for the Strong Pedro Project, he noticed Plaza Park was an underutilized diamond in the
rough. He knew with a little polish and a few upgrades it could become the perfect spot

for his health initiative and improve the community. They, along with Carla Baccio of San
Pedro Fit Bootcamp, took on the task of bringing in new exercise equipment to the park as
an incentive for the program. This proactive effort gave the park an overall safety upgrade
and the polish it needed. After gathering some other area fitness trainers and teachers, the
Strong Pedro Project was born.
In addition to their New Year’s
Class Details
Bootcamp, the Strong Pedro Project
Classes for the New Year run from
will have fitness programs and classes
January 16 - February 25, 2017.
throughout the year. Just last summer, they
launched a highly successful kids’ fitness
The class schedule is as follows:
program in the park that is likely to be
Saturday 9 a.m.: GLUTECAMP provided
even more popular when school breaks
by Heyday Fitness
this year. “A lot of kids don’t even workout
Friday 7 a.m.: TRX BOOTCAMP provided
nowadays,” notes Mckenna.
by San Pedro Fit
“By turning it into a game and bringing
Wednesday 12 p.m.: YOGA provided by
it outdoors, we teach them that working
People’s Place and Palace Yoga, San Pedro.
out can be fun.”
Hitting the gym or working towards
Make sure to follow the Strong Pedro
new fitness goals can be intimidating but
Project on Facebook for information, class
the Strong Pedro Project’s welcoming and
updates, and any schedule changes
comprehensive programs offer something
(www.facebook.com/StrongPedroProject).
for everyone. Utilizing Plaza Park for a
diverse series of classes provided by some
of the community’s best fitness centers and instructors will also keep things interesting.
There is no doubt the Strong Pedro Project will keep its momentum and popularity long
after the New Year’s rush fades into the spring. spt

2016-17 Prep
Soccer Preview
Boys and Girls teams for all three
high schools look to repeat success
story & photos by Jamaal K. Street
Not only has basketball season already begun, another big sport around town in the
winter sports scene is soccer, and there’s plenty of talent to behold at San Pedro, Port of
Los Angeles and Mary Star for their boys’ and girls’ programs. San Pedro’s boys will once
again challenge for a Marine League championship, while Mary Star of the Sea & Port of
Los Angeles both look improved and primed for league title hopes.
All 3 girls’ soccer teams won a league title for the second straight year in 2015-16, with
San Pedro claiming an 11th straight Marine crown, and POLA making it all the way to
the CIF State Division V regional playoffs after falling short in the CIF-Los Angeles City
Section Division IV finals. Here’s a look at all six teams:

24 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I FEBRUARY 2017

BOYS
SAN PEDRO (13-6-1 overall in 2015-16) – The Pirates and fourth-year coach Peter
Hazdovac, due to the new competitive equity in the CIF-LACS, are now looking to make
a mark in the Division 2 playoffs after so many years competing in Division 1, suffering
a 1-0 overtime loss to Bell in the first round last year. Top returners includes seniors
Jerry Solares and Johnny Cervantes, along with juniors Jorge Alvarenga, Seth Turner
and Andries Rodriguez. Sophomore Juan Retana has been impressive thus far, and junior
Francisco Ojeda is a deep threat on free kicks. San Pedro will once again challenge
Banning and Narbonne for Marine League supremacy, as the Pirates finished 6-3-1 in
league, runner-up to the defending champion Pilots.
MARY STAR (17-4-1 in 2015-16) – Third-year coach Chris Guastella boasts another solid
squad. The Stars won the Santa Fe League last year title with a 9-1 mark, and advanced
to the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division V playoffs.Sophomore forward
Victor Garnier will look to duplicate last year’s success, as he scored a phenomenal 45 of
Mary Star’s 74 goals last season. A lot of senior leadership returns for Mary Star in the
likes of Ervin Rodas-Lima, Michael Sharma, Xavier Martinez and Fernando Franco, and
add athleticism from their football team with seniors Robert Enciso, Izzy Amalfitano and
Jaime Casiano. Junior Jesus Aguilera is another returner for the Stars.
POLA (9-7-4 in 2015-16) – Even though the Polar Bears and coach Vic Lopez went 7-3-2
in the Crosstown League, good for second place, they missed the CIF-LACS Division 4
playoffs due to serving a one-year ban for forfeiting their 2014-15 first round game due to
ten players being academically ineligible. Now POLA is in Division 5 and is regarded as

one of the favorites in the division. Senior forward Adolfo “Fifo” Mora is one incredible
talent, and he is one of many returners for POLA who will aim to dethrone Foshay
Learning Center for the Crosstown League championship.
GIRLS
SAN PEDRO (20-3-2 overall in 2015-16) – The Pirates and second-year motherdaughter coaches Crystal Valdes and Chatelaine Ansaldi will be gunning for an
unprecedented 12th straight Marine League championship and are eager to build on last
year’s CIF-LACS Division 1 semifinal run. In fact, on December 9, San Pedro had already
posted a 2-0 victory over defending Division 1 champion Taft of Woodland Hills, the
team that ousted the Pirates in the semifinals. San Pedro also repeated as Lady Pirate Cup
champions on December 23. Senior midfielders Maddie Villela, a Marymount California
commit, and Sydney Engel (18 goals last season) are returning All-City and All-Marine
League selections, while junior goalie Carlene Luna also returns. The defense appears
to still be solid with senior Maddy Luna (Carlene’s sister) and junior Angelina Camello
returning, plus sophomore midfielder Samantha Martinez is a proven clutch player.
Freshman Renee Ketner is a star on the rise for the Pirates.
MARY STAR (10-8 in 2015-16) – Taidigh Simpson is the new coach for the Stars, who
are coming off two straight Santa Fe League championships. Mary Star returns a bevy of
talent as well, paced by quadruple captains and returning All-Santa Fe League sophomore
midfielder Rose Amalfitano, senior midfielder Kaylee Rucker, senior defender Shawnie
Carolla and goalie/midfielder Taylor Garcia, the reigning Santa Fe League Goalkeeper of
the Year.
POLA (22-4-4 in 2015-16) – Could this finally be their year? That’s the question likely
floating in the head of fifth-year coach Javier Torres as Polar Bears return all but five
players from their back-to-back CIF-LACS Division 4 runner-up showings, which both
ended in overtime, or a penalty kick shootout like last year’s (0-0 tie, 2-1 on PK’s) loss to
Northridge Academy. Star junior forward Briana Mancilla already has the school record of
74 career goals (11 so far in 2016-2017 at press time) and is a two-time All-City selection
who produced 30 goals and 26 assists last season. spt

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FEBRUARY 2017 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 25

WEDDING

The Couple
That Works
Together,
Stays
Together
Arthur & Claudia (Canizalez) Mendez
September 3, 2016

26 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I FEBRUARY 2017

story by Brooke Karli
photo by John Mattera Photography

For most, having a relationship with a co-worker never seems to pan out right. But for
Arthur and Claudia (Canizalez) Mendez, working together is the very thing that brought
them together.
“We met at work in 2010; we both work for U.S. Customs and Border Protection,”
explains Claudia. “In the beginning, we hung out with other people and went on group
dates. Then as time went on, we began to go out, just the two of us.”
Fast forward five years later to Arthur’s birthday, July 8, 2015. The couple was having
dinner and drinks with friends in Redondo Beach, and out of nowhere, Arthur asks
Claudia to take a walk with him on the pier.
“I was completely oblivious to what was happening,” she recalls. “I didn’t see it coming
because it was HIS birthday and it was all about HIM. So when he proposed, I was
shocked!”
Little did Claudia know, Arthur had set up the whole event ahead of time, even getting
their group of friends in on it.
Just more than a year later, the two became husband and wife on September 3, 2016 in
front of 250 guests at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church. It was a traditional Catholic
ceremony complete with live music performed in English, Spanish, and Latin. Arthur’s
parents, Arturo and Celina Mendez, walked Arthur to the altar, while Claudia’s parents,
Abel and Dolores Canizalez, both walked her down the aisle.

Standing next to the couple were Best Man Eric Mendez; groomsmen Andrew Mendez,
Thomas Gonzales, Eric Gonzalez, Carlos Salazar, Abel Canizalez Jr., and Rene Gonzalez;
Maid of Honor Araceli Canizalez; bridesmaids Victoria Mendez, Mayra Stubbs, Yadira
Gutierrez, Emily Mina, Antonia Valenzuela, and Cynthia Mendez; and flower girls
Daniella Canizalez and Valerie Mendez. All members of the wedding party participated
in various traditions throughout the ceremony, including the placement of the unity rope,
lighting of the candles, reciting special readings, dispersing the communion, and more.
The reception followed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Pedro, where the
newlyweds shared their first dance to Shania Twain’s “From This Moment,” which led
to a surprise remix with Next’s “Wifey.” Claudia and her father danced to Bob Carlisle’s
“Butterfly Kisses” and her father’s favorite - “Danzones Mexicanos – Almendra.” Arthur
and his mother danced to Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me.”
One of their favorite things about their reception was their cake topper - a bride and
groom standing back-to-back holding guns – fitting for customs and borders officers.
Following their special day, the couple honeymooned in Cancun and Playa del Carmen,
Mexico, for seven days.
They currently reside in Harbor City, and are still working as officers for the U.S.
Customs and Border Protection Los Angeles-Long Beach Seaport. They are looking
forward to starting a family in the future. spt

HEALTH &
FITNESS

It's Worth the Hassle

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

by Ricky Magana

Get a free guide “3 Simple Tweaks Anyone Can Make for Dramatic Fat-loss,” visit
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A client of mine was diagnosed with cancer this week.
Here she was starting the year with steady momentum,
exercising, eating right. It was going to be a good year. Then she felt
the lumps.
"Okay, it's probably nothing, but to be safe, lets get a biopsy."
“Sorry ma'am, the lumps are cancerous. We must begin treatment
immediately.”
My guess is that beating cancer wasn't on her 2017 resolutions
list. No, she started the year with the resolve to get herself in the
best shape of her life. Now she must fight for her life.
Recently, I asked a few people if they had any goals for the new year. The resounding
answer? No. "Why bother? I just end up mad at myself for not sticking to it." This is the
sentiment among many people. We've gotten so jaded about making big goals. We let
ourselves down or have some outside force derail us, and eventually we figure it's not
worth the hassle. I beg to differ.
Yes, most of the goals we make are going to fail. In fact, I'd be embarrassed if you read
my journal from five years ago. It's filled with unrealized, failed, and abandoned pursuits.
I too used to think, "Wow I've made all these plans and I've attained almost none of them.
Why bother?" Then I realized that hidden among the failures, were goals that actually
happened. In fact, it was eerie how accurate much of my current reality matched what
was only distant aspiration five years ago. I am much further today because I've swung so
many times and missed than if I had done the rational thing and not tried at all. And with
every failure came a lot of learning and experience that I'm grateful to have.
Here's something to think about as we begin the New Year: just because your likelihood
of failure is high, doesn't mean you shouldn't go for it anyway. But before you lace up
again and go for whatever it is you hope to achieve, here's some unsolicited advice.
Own your failures. Social media has taught us that we're supposed to look successful
and unscathed at all times. We curate the highlight reel of our life and in turn, intensify
our innate fear of failure or looking stupid. One of the most powerful weapons anyone can
adopt is giving yourself the permission to epically fail. The ability to smile when there's
mud on your face and people are laughing will make you a force to be reckoned with.
Be clear on your objective but not attached to it. Did you know that John Wooden
didn't give pep talks? He believed that trying to rouse emotions in the 4th quarter was a
loser’s game. He taught his players to control their emotions in all situations, in victory
and defeat. To him, if his players focused on what they could control without getting
caught up in emotions, they'd never lose, even if occasionally they got outscored. Like
Wooden, understand that there are only a couple things under your direct control and
a myriad of things that aren't. You don't get to tell the scale what you weigh today, but
if you let it tell you how you should feel about yourself, you are destined to fail. Be a
dispassionate observer; stop attaching meaning to things that aren't under your control.
Rather, look at everything as feedback to either stay the course or tweak your approach.
When something isn't working, don't repeat the EXACT same course of action.
I see people try the square-peg-round-hole plan all the time. Repeatedly doing what isn't
working, hoping that just trying harder will fix it. If you keep failing, seek out advice by
researching, reading and consulting with those who are where you want to be. Then listen
and implement what you learn.
Expect things to get FUBAR. Like my client, you can do everything right and still,
something falls on your lap that frankly, you don't deserve. You have every right to be
angry at these unfortunate events, but always try to find the silver lining. Scream into the
pillow. Punch the heavy bag. Then focus on constructive action. Over time, your adversity
will give you strength that most people only wish they could have. And the perspective
that, while we fail and things get hard, life is a gift. And striving for better is absolutely
worth the hassle. spt

THANK YOU, SAN PEDRO, FOR
15 WONDERFUL YEARS!
MAY THE LONGTIME SUN
SHINE UPON YOU...

Inconvenience and
Saint Valentine's Day
by Pastor Nathan Hoff
“An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an
adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered.” – G.K. Chesterton,
“On Running After One’s Hat,” All Things Considered (1908)
We are coming up on two important saints' days: Saint
Valentine's Day on February 14 and Saint Patrick's Day on March
17. We commemorate the former with chocolates and roses and
the latter with green beer and shamrock shakes. No wonder both
saints are so popular! I suppose the longer gap we have between
the real Valentine (2nd Century), who was inconveniently martyred
for his faith, and the real Patrick (5th Century), who was inconveniently enslaved, allows
for selective memory and observance. It would seem awkward to celebrate the recently
canonized Saint (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta, who inconveniently ministered to the dying
and went through a prolonged "dark night of the soul," with chocolates or green beer.
I wonder what God thinks about our bias toward spiritual convenience? Or do we dare
even ask that question anymore? Popular spirituality is convenient, and becoming more
so. We are all about offering convenient times that fit our busy schedules, Instagramming
convenient scriptural sound bites that uplift, and making classes and spiritual practices
and service opportunities as safe, easy, and convenient as possible. 2016 marked the
twelfth time I preached and presided at Trinity's 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service. When it
was 10 p.m. at home in front of our cozy fire, in the middle of a "some-assembly-required"
project for one of my four kids, I asked my wife, "Why do we keep up this late service?"
Fewer than 100 people come. The kids fall asleep, not to mention the adults fighting to
stay awake during my sermon. Worship that late is inconvenient.
But what if convenience is shrinking our souls and our faith communities? Maybe
everything wasn't meant to be convenient? No, I don't mean we should use archaic
language, or enshrine a highbrow musical style, or create barriers for people to come
and understand and participate. But those eras in redemptive history, and places around
the world marked by challenge, persecution, and even martyrdom have seen the most
expansive growth in the souls of believers and their communities. Tertullian said, "The
blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." But convenience becomes optional becomes
irrelevant becomes discarded. Inconvenience could be the best friend of vibrant faith.
I asked some local faith leaders to reflect on faith and inconvenience, and the issue
of surrender came up consistently. Staffan Eklund, priest at the Swedish Church Abroad
on Beacon Street, wrote, "to live as a Christian, is always an inconvenience in that sense
that there is someone else who will be sitting at the throne in my heart, who wants to be
'number one' in my life, God himself." Jared Kilduff, pastor at Ocean View Baptist, wrote,
"The cost of being a disciple, or the inconvenience of faith means that each day I pick up
my cross and follow Christ." Maurice Harrigan, priest at Mary Star, wrote, "Remember
what Our Blessed Lord said about giving up home and property and family... Christ
always takes the little act of faith and love and makes it infinite."
San Pedro has glorious examples of inconvenience, like having multiple services during
the high holy days, or early morning seminary at the Mormon Stake, or fundraising for
the Ocean View Baptist youth group, or three years of catechism, or bringing a casserole
to a new mother or a grieving widower, or sticking with our spouse "for better or worse,
in sickness and in health," or standing up for the underdog, the vulnerable, for justice; and
forgiving those who trespass against us. All are inconvenient! None of us would advertise
with the adjective "inconvenient" to adorn our bulletins, websites, or social media, but
it is an important value to each of us. Our kids won't remember many of the convenient
choices we made, but they will remember the inconvenient ones. Convenience consumes
shamrock shakes. Inconvenience forms saints. spt
Nathan Hoff is the Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in San Pedro
(www.trinitysanpedro.org). He blogs at www.trinitypastor.blogspot.com.

FEBRUARY 2017 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 29

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30 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I FEBRUARY 2017

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